Wednesday, November 23, 2016

tree-service

It’s not just what an expert knows, it’s also how they communicate with you (and your loved ones) when a “tree event” happens to your house, car, fence or other property. This is Part II in a series about choosing the best tree care expert for your property.

In Part I we covered what to look for. In today’s post, we’re going to be talking about who to consider looking for.

Here we go!

It’s pretty simple, really.

Look for a tree service with a team of people who can handle a potentially tough conversation professionally & with care.

We talk with a lot of people each week, both in the office and in the field, about their damaged property. While we speak with people often about this, our callers and customers often don’t have much experience with these kinds of events.

There’s plenty of stress, worry, upset and fear when a person calls in because their 40ft tree just smashed their neighbor’s car. The urge to hurry up and get it fixed is very real. And, understandably, very scary.

Here are a few of the things we do here at Matt’s Tree Service:

On the phone & in the office
We’re quick to respond, and we will have just a few questions.

When a person calls because huge tree caved in their roof, you bet there’s going to be some emotion in that conversation.

We’re real. We’re respectful. We’re going to walk you through every step.

And we’re going to need just a bit of information so we can take a few notes and see how soon we can get to the property to serve you …and move that tree.

In the field & at the site
In person and on site, we can handle a tough situation. And we’ll stand right next to our customers all the way through the process.

When we arrive, we’re going to make a thorough assessment, as quickly as possible.

We know that even if we were able to work at lightspeed, it would still not feel fast enough. When a person sees their roof caved in, repairs simply can’t happen fast enough. Completely understand.

And, we want to do it right. Do it safely. And yes, as quickly as possible.

We’re real people first with you, and we work professionally to resolve property issues regarding trees.

NOTE: in this business, when it rains…

It definitely pours.

When a storm comes, and damage happens, it happens to many properties throughout the entire Greater Seattle area. Schedules are different between tree service companies at any given moment.

If you speak with a company that can’t see your site until the next day or two, ask that company for a recommendation of another tree service.

Connections are tight in our local industry, so if you like how one busy company speaks with you and helps you, ask for a recommendation from them for another service that they trust and refer to.

We understand that dealing with damaged property is not something you’ll ever want to experience. No one does. But if you have to go through it, remember, it’s not just about what a tree service knows, it’s also about how the staff talks with you and works with you all the way through.

Give a call with questions. We’re here for you.

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Thursday, November 17, 2016

Part I in a series about choosing the best tree care expert for your property

what-to-look-for-in-a-tree-service-part-1

It’s not often you need to look for a tree service, but when you do need limbs trimmed or even entire trees removed, there are a few specifics to look for when you’re combing the internet or asking friends for referrals.

Today, we’ll go over a few of the “whats” to look for, and in the next post, we’ll be sharing important “who” elements to cover in your interviews & initial calls.

If you’re lucky enough to be planning ahead in terms of tree care and service, and not facing an emergency, these tips will make sense and some of them may even seem obvious.

If you’re in an emergency and facing lots of stress about tree damage to your property, house or even car, you’ll want this list as a kind of checklist to help you ask good questions. Good questions will yield good information, so you can make the best decisions for yourself and your family, even while under stress and worry.

Let’s dig in:

  1. Is the company licensed?
    The work an arborist does off the ground is dangerous work. You’ll want a trained professional, with a company that’s serious enough to know this is a business. Will the technicians be wearing hardhats and personal protection gear on site? What is the company’s training program like for the crew members?
  2. Are they properly insured?
    Ask them to bring a certificate sharing their current status of insurance. What you don’t need is to be liable for accidents, additional damages or injuries while they’re working on your job.
  3. What are their reviews like on Yelp, Facebook or Houzz?
    Part of your due diligence, is to see what others are saying about the service company you’re considering. What’s the overall score? And how were the descriptions on the most recent few reviews?
  4. Are they familiar with the specific laws and regulations for your neighborhood?
    This is a critical component to ask about. The laws with regards to trees on properties in Bellevue are radically different than those in West Seattle. Tree services must work within compliance with the local authorities when it comes to pruning, removing and other tasks.Check out our Links & Resources page for details about your local area. And be sure that the company has knowledge of the laws in your neighborhood.The above questions are easy ones to ask prior to having someone come out to give an estimate. If it’s an emergency, you’ll definitely want to say so on the phone when you call.When you have a representative at your home or property site, keep these questions in mind:
  5. Will they be issuing a detailed estimate, in writing?
    So important. Ask questions about the estimate (and consider getting 2 more from other companies too). You’ll really want to understand the scope of work before they begin.
  6. How will they be approaching the project?
    Negotiating driveways or back alleys with a crane or large truck can be tricky. Your understanding of the scope, based on the previous question, will help you understand their approach to taking care of job at hand.
  7. Estimated time the project will take? And, hey, how about a start date, too?
    Another really important element, how soon can they start? This should be spelled out on the estimate. One company may say 5 days while another may be ready to go in a few hours.Consider asking about ongoing maintenance for the larger trees on site. With the tech onsite, ask “How often should this tree get a cutting service?” or “What other limbs should I be keeping an eye on?”Getting a sense of regular care will help you not only budget for this work, but will also help you understand how to be a great steward for your trees.Storm just passed through?
    If it’s been stormy and windy recently, don’t be surprised if it seems like all of the tree companies in the whole area will be busy. When it gets stormy in the PNW, trees and branches start to give. So companies will all be fielding calls, driving to locations to give estimates and making sure the crews in the field are working efficiently, safely & quickly.We’d be happy to come to your property and see the trees at your location.  Give a call or email and we’d love to come by and talk tree care with you.

 

The post Part I in a series about choosing the best tree care expert for your property appeared first on Matt's Tree Service.

Part I in a series about choosing the best tree care expert for your property




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